A federal grand jury in Alaska has indicted James Wohlers, a 56-year-old man from Deatsville, Alabama, on charges of wire fraud and tax evasion. The indictment alleges that Wohlers defrauded GBR Equipment/Oilfield Services (GBR), an Anchorage-based company where he served as general manager.
Court documents reveal that Wohlers joined GBR in 2008 as a human resource manager and was promoted to general manager in 2009. His responsibilities included overseeing vendor relations, employee hiring, payroll, accounting, and coordinating wire transfers from the company's bank account.
An audit conducted in 2019 revealed financial discrepancies. From at least 2013 to 2019, Wohlers allegedly made unauthorized wire transfers from GBR's account and used corporate credit cards for personal expenses. The indictment further claims that Wohlers formed BGI Industrial Services (BGI) in 2015 and sent invoices to two companies for services rendered by GBR. These invoices were paid into BGI's bank account.
In late 2015, amid alleged financial difficulties at GBR, Wohlers announced pay cuts for employees but later used over $43,000 of company funds for a personal trip to China. He was terminated by GBR in August 2019 after the audit findings came to light.
Wohlers faces one count of wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion. He is scheduled for his initial court appearance on January 10 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble in Alaska. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Anchorage Field Office and the IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker announced the charges alongside Special Agent Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Special Agent Adam Jobes of the IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley will prosecute the case.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.